This is a church function, so of course there is food, in this instance provided by the retreat center staff.  The meals gave a great opportunity to meet and get to know the other attendees better.  This was particularly valuable for us, to begin to hear how the other regions and synods of the UCCSA were going about the tasks inherent in the establishment of the new structures.

     Starting from the upper left, and going clockwise:
     (1) Ruthann with Prof Steve deGruchy of the Theology faculty at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, and two delegates from Peninsula Region (Cape Town);
     (2) Rev Des van der Water, the UCCSA General Secretary, with Rev Heather Thompson of Berea Congregational Church in Durban;
     (3) everyone gets very active, come the tea break!;
     (4) the discussions continue inside;
     (5) the discussions continue outside -- Ruthann, again, and in the back, delegates from two of the regions in the Eastern Cape province; and
     (6) back to work -- Baphiwe Mxumalo, of the KwaZulu-Natal region, makes a point.

     The UCCSA unites several historical church bodies, including the Congregational churches of the London Missionary Society and -- of particular personal interest to us -- those affiliated with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, as well as others.  The denomination now includes churches in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
     One of the real thrills for us, at this Consultation, was the opportunity to meet and get to know the delegates who had come from all over Southern Africa.
     For more information on the UCCSA, visit http://www.uccsa.co.za.